do you get stuck plowing snow?

[scoot]

Seems like a weight issue to me too. Try throwing some sandbags in the bed. We used to use a couple of full size Broncos (remember those) back in the day to plow a few tight townhome complexes. They worked OK but would often get stuck and sometimes didn't have enough weight to push the snow all the way over to the curbs. We'd often need to send a heavier truck over to pull them out and finish cleaning up. Even a 3/4 ton pickup with a diesel engine made a world of difference weight wise.

 

[lenny]

a spool? Is that a locked rear end? If it is and it's permanent I can't use that because I use the truck for other things in the summer

 

[jmvette427]

NO SPOOL ! plowing, turning, you will make that poor dodge cry! 4x4 bindup in 2wheel drive your gonna break it. chains are your answer . probably just need on rear axle

 

[chevytaHOE5674]

My plow truck never leaves the farm here and it wears a set of square link chains on the back and they really help when you start plowing up and down hills like I have.

Technically you aren't supposed to run down the road with them on but I have on occasion but wouldn't want to do it all the time.

 

[srt20]

I've had vehicles with spool before. It's not a big deal. You get a little chirping in the tires. Yes your tires will wear faster on dry pavement. That's why I asked if it was a daily driver. You probably don't want a spool if you are putting 12k+ miles on it a year.

You don't lock both, just the rear. Yes a spool is permanent until you take it out. Easy to install and remove. 30 mins tops if you have floating axles, which by looking at the picture, you do have.

I was just throwing a cheap easy solution for a dedicated plow rig. But it sounds like that not the answer for him.

 

[skidoolouie]

For when you get stuck maybe a winch mounted in rear hitch and hook it to a tree if near.

 

[67rs]

cheap way to lock your rear is called a lincoln locker pull your carrier take to a friend with a stick welder and weld your axel gears in the carrier did this for years on my mud trucks with 44" tires never broke it is permanent i still use the 77 dodge as my plow truck 440 auto 1 ton 9' straight blade with 2000lbs in the rear run the tires a little low for more bite it's cheap and bullet proof.

 

[lenny]

cheap way to lock your rear is called a lincoln locker pull your carrier take to a friend with a stick welder and weld your axel gears in the carrier did this for years on my mud trucks with 44" tires never broke it is permanent i still use the 77 dodge as my plow truck 440 auto 1 ton 9' straight blade with 2000lbs in the rear run the tires a little low for more bite it's cheap and bullet proof.

your plow truck has a welded carrier?

 

[frnash]

Throw some chains on it. Problem solved, no?

… Chains would be great if you don't have to go down paved roads.

… My concern about chains are I plow one lot, drive to the other and than another and go back and forth. Can you leave the chains on all winter if you drive on the highway, probably not hey?

I don't think I wanna be putting them on and off all the time,,,hmmmm

Better to read the rulebook when it comes to chains in MI. While there are special provisions for the UP, chains coming into contact with a roadway is not one of them regardless of speed.

Where would I find documentation on the "… special provisions for the UP"?

…Technically you aren't supposed to run down the road with them on but I have on occasion but wouldn't want to do it all the time.

From Michigan State Police, Traffic Laws FAQs:

Question: Are tire chains legal in Michigan?

Answer: MCL 257.710 of the Michigan Vehicle Code covers the use of tire chains, and states that a person may "use a tire chain of reasonable proportion upon a vehicle when required for safety because of snow, ice, or other condition tending to cause a vehicle to skid." If used, the chain must not come in contact with the surface of the roadway.

Also:

Question: Are studded tires legal in Michigan ?

Answer: In practical terms, no.

MCL 257.710 allows for the use of studded tires if they meet the specifications listed in subparts (c), (d), and (e). The part that specifically deals with studded tires is subpart (d) which states; "The department of state highways and transportation shall promulgate rules establishing acceptable standards to permit the use of a tire with studs or other traction devices to be used on a street or highway after April 1, 1975. The rules shall make separate provision for the extreme winter snow and ice conditions of the Upper Peninsula and the Northern Lower Peninsula. The rules shall include a restriction on the amount and dimension of protrusions that may be allowed on a tire, the type of material that may be used in a stud, traction device, or tire, and the amount of road wear that a tire with studs or other traction devices may cause on a street or highway."

Administrative Rules 247.171 through 247.175 govern studded tires and set the criteria for their use.

These rules state two conditions that must be met for the use of studded tires. Note: to date no manufacturer of tire studs has supplied information to the Michigan Department of Transportation that their product meets or exceeds the required pavement wear specifications.

First, they can only be used between November 15 and April 1 of the succeeding year except in the Upper Peninsula and the Northern Lower Peninsula , where, because of extreme winter snow and ice conditions, they may be used between October 1 and May 1of the succeeding year. Northern Lower Peninsula is defined as those counties whose southern boundaries are as far or farther north than the southern boundary of Missaukee county.

Second, studs or other traction devices shall not be used unless they wear either concrete or asphalt pavements, typical of those in this state, at a rate not to exceed 25% of the reference standard studded tire.

(Whatever all that mumbo-jumbo means!)

 

[EXCESSIVE FORCE]

cheap way to lock your rear is called a lincoln locker pull your carrier take to a friend with a stick welder and weld your axel gears in the carrier did this for years on my mud trucks with 44" tires never broke it is permanent i still use the 77 dodge as my plow truck 440 auto 1 ton 9' straight blade with 2000lbs in the rear run the tires a little low for more bite it's cheap and bullet proof.

old truck puller trick....
got one on my pulling truck......

 

[mrbb]

I have broke a few so called welded together lockers' home made
so I really don't recommend doing sop, all teh mroe so if your addinga lot of weight and chains to the mix, all that down force can cause a weak link to snap
I agree with others weight is what you need, , odds are right now your nose heavyon your set up and that is making you get stuck mroe often
if your truck is a plow only truck, what about stud's< they can make a big difference in traction and not be so harsh to drive with, actual tires made more for snow will help you too, as they have softer compounds that add traction
I have owned a few AIr lockers too, they work great but are costly for sure, but you some times get what you pay for?

 

[xcr440]

Air lockers are great, but expensive as noted.

Just go get a set of chains with additional weight in the back and you'll be fine.

 

[mezz]

I believe that lack of weight is your issue. Throw a half dozen or so sand sausages over the rear axle & you should be good to go. Plus if you need traction material you have some sand available.-Mezz

 

[chop]

Unless you have a heavy steel floor on that stake bed it probably weighs quite a bit less than a stock bed. So not only do you have a huge counterweight on the front, but you have less rear axle weight that stock on top of it. I know with my F250, I need at least 1200lbs in the back to even notice it. With a plow on the front I just load a bunch of scrap in the back, between 1500-2000lbs.

Another thing to check is your front hubs. Make sure they are both actually locked. My F250 had vacuum actuated crap that did fully engage. You didnt realize it until you really needed them. Then it was too late. A set of Warn manual hubs fixed that headache.

 

[erkoehler]

Add more weight to the bed of that truck, we run 1,000-1,500 pounds minimum on my plow trucks that have no salters in them. 90% of our plowing is done in 2 wheel drive.

 

[favoritos]

Lenny, it looks like you need weight just to balance with the blade up front. You are also fighting a pretty stiff suspension on that rig. A one wheel wonder rear ax will really cause problems. Don't do the spendy locker, but get a cheap rear axle and weld the thing. Add some weight and you will be good.

Keep in mind that a heavy rig is also harder to pull out when you really get stuck. But, no need for a winch if you have something to tie on. I use load ratchets for many things. They are pretty cheap and usually can move the vehicle enough to get you back on good ground.

 

[67rs]

no i welded my side gears to the carrier and yes it is my plow truck and i abuse it badly... i have a farm and use it as a tractor with the 44's in the summer pulls loaded wagons hauls wood